Controversy surrounds 'white history month' float in North Carolina July 4 parade

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By ABC13

HOPE MILLS, NC

People lined the streets of Hope Mills Thursday for the community's annual July 4th parade.

A picture snapped by a parade-goer shows a man on a tractor flying a confederate flag and pulling a wagon loaded with watermelons. A sign on the trailer read: "White History Month. Hug WTE PPL."

Town officials told ABC11 that farmer Donnie Spell applied for and received a parade permit. However, officials said Spell told them he would be pulling an antique tractor with a sign that read: "Watermelons for sale" at a nearby bank parking lot.

When ABC11 went to Spell's home, his gate was locked. A neighbor said he didn't think the man was trying to be vicious or funny.

But people that saw the float thought otherwise.

"This should be over, all that stuff should be over. I don't understand why people are still living like this," Hope Mills resident Suzanne Singletary said.

Town officials said they are considering making changes to the registration process so that this does not happen again.

This story is from our sister station, WTVD-TV. For more on this story, go to www.abc11.com.